Chancellor Osborne accused of 'waging a war on reality'

Chancellor Osborne accused of 'waging a war on reality'

By staff writers

7 Dec 2012

Scottish Greens say that the UK Chancellor's economic and energy plans fail to respond to a world of staggering inequality and the urgent need to cut carbon.

In light of the autumn statement announced by George Osborne at Westminster, Patrick Harvie, the MSP for Glasgow and Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said: "The chancellor continues to wage his war on reality, creating ever greater poverty and inequality in our society and backing the wrong fuel for our energy needs and climate targets."

He continued: "The gigantic real-terms cut in benefits for the poorest in Scotland will cut some incomes to levels of complete destitution, with food and fuel poverty levels pushed to desperate new highs."

Mr Harvie added: "Some of the wealthiest companies in the country will be laughing all the way to the bank, raising a glass to the Tories who have just cut their taxes even further. Soon they’ll stop needing to bother dodging their tax bills, because Mr Osborne will have stopped bothering to send them one.

"The Chancellor is late to react to the utter public outrage felt towards top brands who avoid tax. More tax staff and rule changes are welcome, but in an age where reputation is everything, we should be naming and shaming high-profile offenders."

On the 'dash for cash' and climate change, the Scottish Greens' leader declared: "Backing a new generation of gas is an utterly reckless action. The Tory wind-farm bashers are having too much fun to stop undermining climate change policy now, and the Government's top adviser on the climate has thrown up his hands in despair. Just four years after the UK Climate Act, the Coalition is doing its best to unstitch the deal."

Mr Harvie concluded: "Scottish values are clearly different from those of the UK Coalition and it would be foolish to pin hopes on a future Labour government reversing the damage that has been done. It increasingly makes sense for Scotland to decide its own priorities, so we can protect the vulnerable in society and foster a sustainable economy."